Golf club putter head

ABSTRACT

A golf putter head has a weighted heel portion and a lighter front portion, where a striking face is located. A cutout is formed in the striking face and a high-impact polymer wedge-shaped insert is fitted into this cutout. The insert serves as the hitting face of the putter head. The bottom surface of the putter head has an irregularly-shaped cutout configured to receive a metal sole plate therein. Heavier portion of the sole plate is located in the heel portion of the putter head, causing a lower center of gravity of the putter head. The bottom surface of the bottom cutout adjacent to the front portion has several openings, which receive epoxy of similar lightweight material, thereby making the front portion lighter in comparison to the heel portion. The front striking surface ahs a lower inclined portion to improve loft of the putter head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a golf club, and more particularly to a golf putter head designed to facilitate more precise and accurate control of the putting stroke.

[0002] Through the years, the golf industry has introduced numerous putters, with shapes and designs claimed to give advantage to the player on the greens, better accuracy and precision strike. Thousands of putters and drivers have been designed with numerous variations in the configurations, face shapes, slots, grooves, etc. all to improve the game and make it easier for a beginner and professional player to control the roll of the ball. However, none of the existing designs provide a putter head with a weight distribution towards the heel of the putter head and a low center of gravity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a putter head, which has a low center of gravity.

[0004] It is another object of the present of the present invention to provide an improved putter head having a weighted heel.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a putter head with reduced weight upper portion in the area above the “sweet spot.”

[0006] These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a putter head having a generally triangular configuration with rounded corners. A striking face extends between a bottom face and a top face. A cutout is formed in the striking face, and a wedge-shaped high-impact polymer insert is fitted into the front face cutout. The striking face has an inclined lower portion to facilitate a perpendicular direction of impact of the hitting plate on the golf ball.

[0007] The bottom face is provided with an irregularly-shaped cutout and a sole plate is fitted into that cutout. The sole plate has a specific weight greater than the specific weight of the putter head body, which is made of a hardwood, such as for instance persimmon wood. The heavy sole plate lowers the center of gravity of the putter head.

[0008] The bottom face cutout is defined in part by a bottom surface. A plurality of openings is formed in the bottom surface. These openings are filled with a material, for instance epoxy that has a specific weight smaller than the specific weight of the putter body. The bottom face openings are located adjacent to the striking face of the putter head.

[0009] The heel portion of the putter head is located at an apex of the converging side faces. A weight member is fitted in the heel portion to re-distribute the weight of the putter head and make the heel portion heavier than the front portion where the striking plate is located. As a result, a more balanced strike and accuracy of the ball travel is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals and wherein

[0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded top view of the putter head in accordance with the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded bottom view of the putter head of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of the striking face of the putter head of the present invention, with the insert plate removed for clarity.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the striking face of the putter head showing orientation of centerline hosel holes.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sole plate of the putter head of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a side view of the sole plate shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the putter head in accordance with the present invention. The putter head 10 comprises a striking face 12 defined by a flat surface with a cutout 14 in the center thereof. A hitting plate 16 having a generally trapezoidal vertical section, fits into the cutout 14 and is retained therein in a frictional engagement. The wedge-shaped insert, or hitting plate 16 is retained in place with the help of a sole plate, as well.

[0018] The body of the putter head 10 has a specific weight; is made of a hardwood, for instance persimmon wood; the insert 16 is formed from a high impact polymer, which gives, on impact with the ball, a more precise strike and gives a different feel as compared to conventional hardwood putter striking face.

[0019] The putter head 10 further comprises side faces 18 and 20 that extend from opposite ends of the striking face 12 and connect to the striking face 12 by rounded corners 22 and 24, respectively. The rounded corners 22 and 24 extend from the outermost limits of the striking face 12 at an acute angle thereto, while the side faces 18 and 20 extend at about 60-degree angles in relation to the front striking surface 12. The side faces 18 and 20 converge into an apex or rounded face 26, which forms an apex of the triangularly-shaped putter head 10.

[0020] An opening 30 is formed in the top face 32 of the putter head. The opening 30 is located adjacent the apex defined by the corner 26. A weighted plug, or weight member 34 is inserted into the opening 30. The plug 34 maybe a brass cylinder secured in the opening 30 with an epoxy or other similar adhesive material. The plug 34 provides the distribution of weight to the heel portion of the putter head 10. The addition of the weight in the heel portion of the putter head 16 facilitates parallel orientation of the putter head relative to the ground when balanced by a golf club shaft.

[0021] A shaft opening, or hosel opening, is formed in the top face 32, along the top edge of the striking face 12. One of such openings is shown in solid line in FIG. 1, while alternative openings are shown in phantom line in FIG. 1. Depending on the position of the shaft, the putter head 10 can be provided with an opening 38 adjacent to the corner face 22, which will accommodate a left handed player with an off-center shaft location. Alternatively, the putter head 10 can be provided with an opening 40 which would be suitable for a right-handed player. The openings 38 and 40 are drilled perpendicularly to the face 32 of the putter head 10.

[0022] If the manufacturer desires to produce a putter head 10 for use with a center shaft, the invention provides for the use of two alternative openings, a left-handed center hosel opening 22 and a right-handed hosel opening 44. The openings 42 and 44 are drilled at an angle in relation to the vertical axis of the putter head 10. As can be better seen in FIG. 4, a center axis of the hosel opening 42 is oriented at an angle “a,” which is about 70-72 degrees in relation to the top face 32.

[0023] Similarly, the angle of the center axis passing through the hosel opening 44, angle “d” in FIG. 4, is about 70-72 degrees in relation to the top face 32. The shaft of the handle, if the center hosel model is selected, will pass through the openings 42 or 44, depending on whether the left-handed or the right-handed model is chosen. Both openings 42 and 44 cross the centerline 48 (FIG. 1).

[0024] To facilitate striking of the ball in a straight line, the front face 12 of the putter head 10 is provided with an upwardly inclined portion 50 (FIG. 3). The portion 50 extends an angle in relation to the bottom edge 52 of the putter head 10; the portion 52 terminates at an edge 54, which defines the upper edge of the surface inclined portion 50. The inclined portion extends an a pre-determined angle, defined as angle “c” in FIG. 3, which may be about 35-37 degrees in relation to the horizontal bottom edge 52.

[0025] The same slanted angle is provided on the hitting plate 16; the inclined portion of the hitting plate 16 is identified by numeral 56 in FIG. 4. The loft of the putter head 10 provides a better accuracy in striking the ball and reduces the resistance of the ball in the beginning of a travel. The ball rolls forward from the hitting plate 16 above the inclined surface 56 and is propelled more accurately toward the goal.

[0026] As can be further seen in FIG. 3, the cutout 14 formed in the face 12 has upwardly inclined walls 58 and 60. The walls are oriented at angles “d” and “e,” respectively. The angles “d” and “e” may be 76-78 degrees in relation to the bottom edge 62 of the cutout 14. The striking plate 16 fits into the cutout 14 and frictionally engages the walls 58, 60 and the edge 62.

[0027] The bottom surface of the putter head 10, shown better in an exploded view in FIG. 2, is provided with an irregularly-shaped cutout 70 sized and shaped to receive a sole plate 72 therein. The sole plate 72 is made from heavy material, for instance brass, to lower the center of gravity of the putter head 10.

[0028] A plurality of openings 74 is found in the bottom surface of the cutout 70. Adjacent to the front striking face 12 The hardwood material that makes up the structure of the putter head 10 is removed from the openings 74 and lightweight epoxy resin is deposited into the openings 74. The epoxy resin has a slower specific weight in comparison with the hardwood body of the putter head 10. As a result, the front portion of the putter head 10, where the openings 74 are located, is made artificially lighter than the heel portion, where the weighted plug 34 is positioned.

[0029] As can be further seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sole plate 72 has a thicker heel portion 76. This arrangement further ensures that the weight of the heel portion 26 is greater in comparison with the all-wood putter head conventionally used by the gold players.

[0030] The combination of the hardwood, the offset of the hosel weight, particularly with the center line hosels, the high impact striking plate 16 improves the swinging mass of the putter head 10 and facilitates a better pendulum motion needed for an accurate strike. The swinging mass, being particularly distributed through the body of the putter head 10 provides better inertia to the putter head and assures that he striking face 12 stays perfectly square at impact. The face is not “open” or “closed”, but is rather balanced for the accurate strike. The angle of the strike by the plate 16 remains perpendicular to the ball and assures that the ball is rolling on a true line.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mass of the putter head 10 is between 113 to 230 grams. The mass is moved closer to the back of the putter head while making the front portion lighter. As a result, the swinging action of the putter head has a better perspective, and a more accurate rolling of the ball can be achieved. The weight of the putter head 10 is distributed in a precise balance to assure that the striking face always faces straight up and does not roll to the left or to the right.

[0032] Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A golf club putter head, comprising: a generally triangular body having a striking face, a pair of side faces, a top face and a bottom face; a sole plate fitted into a cutout formed in the bottom face; a hard-impact hitting plate fitted into a cutout formed in the striking face; and a weight member mounted in the top face to facilitate weight distribution towards a heel portion of the putter head.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cutout formed in the bottom face comprises a bottom surface, and wherein a plurality of openings are formed in said bottom surface, said openings being filled with a material having a specific weight smaller than the specific weight of the material forming the putter head body.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said openings are located adjacent the striking face of the putter head body.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein a hosel opening is formed in the top face of the putter head body.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said hosel opening extends perpendicularly to the top face of said putter head body.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein said hosel opening extends at an angle to a vertical center axis of said putter head body.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said hosel opening extends at about 70 to 72 degree angle in relation to the vertical center axis of the putter head body.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said hitting plate is wedge-shaped.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said sole plate if formed from a material having a specific weight substantially greater than the specific weight of the putter head body.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said sole plate has a reduced thickness portion located in a front part of said sole plate.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said striking face has a bottom edge and an inclined portion adjacent said bottom edge.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said inclined portion is inclined at an angle of about 35 to 37 degrees in relation to the bottom edge.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein said cutout formed in said striking face is defined in part by a pair of opposing inclined walls extending from a lower portion of said striking face to the top face of the putter head body.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein each of said inclined walls is oriented at about 78 degree angle in relation to the bottom edge of the striking face cutout.
 15. A golf club putter head, comprising: a generally triangular body formed from a material having a specific weight, said body comprising a striking face, a pair of side faces extending on opposite sides of said striking face, a top face and a bottom face; a sole plate fitted into a cutout formed in the bottom face; a hard-impact hitting plate fitted into a cutout formed in the striking face; and a weight member mounted in the top face to facilitate weight distribution towards a heel portion of the putter head.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein a cutout is formed in a center of said striking face, and wherein a hard-impact hitting plate is fitted in the striking face cutout.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein said hitting plate is formed from a hard-impact polymer material.
 18. The device of claim 15, wherein said putter head body has rounded corners, one of said corners defining a heel portion of the putter head, said heel portion being located opposite said striking face.
 19. The device of claim 15, wherein the cutout formed in the bottom face comprises a bottom surface, and wherein a plurality of openings are formed in said bottom surface, said openings being filled with a material having a specific weight smaller than the specific weight of the material forming the putter head body.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said bottom face openings are located adjacent the striking face of the putter head body.
 21. The device of claim 15, wherein a hosel opening is formed in the top face of the putter head body.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein said hosel opening extends perpendicularly to the top face of said putter head body.
 23. The device of claim 21, wherein said hosel opening extends at an angle to a vertical center axis of said putter head body.
 24. The device of claim 23, wherein said hosel opening extends at about 70 to 72 degree angle in relation to the vertical center axis of the putter head body.
 25. The device of claim 15, wherein said hitting plate is wedge-shaped and wherein side walls of said hitting plate extend at angle of about 70 to 72 degrees in relation to a lower edge of said hitting plate.
 26. The device of claim 15, wherein said sole plate if formed from a material having a specific weight substantially greater than the specific weight of the putter head body.
 27. The device of claim 15, wherein said sole plate has a reduced thickness portion located in a front part of said sole plate.
 28. The device of claim 15, wherein said striking face has a bottom edge and an upwardly inclined portion adjacent said bottom edge.
 29. The device of claim 11, wherein said upwardly inclined portion is inclined at an angle of about 35 to 37 degrees in relation to the bottom edge. 